Thursday, 28 August 2014

News of a Pectoral Sandpiper at Charlton Mires tempted me away from more pressing work in the garden for an afternoon. There were a dozen Ruff probing the mud, outnumbered by forty to fifty Lapwings. A couple of Snipe, a Little Ringed Plover and of course excellent views of the 'star of the show' completed the wader roll-call.
The seasonal pool is viewable from the side of the A1 just south of Brownieside close to the dog kennels. It's not the most peaceful place to bird.... but well worth a visit while these seasonal visitors are there.

Sunday, 10 August 2014

Today was my monthly trip to Fenham Flats to do a WeBS count. The day started well with a flock of 7 Little Egrets just east of Elwick hide, the weather seemed to be holding as I headed in the direction of Guile Point, by the time I got there the sun was out and I spent well over an hour counting birds, the highlight being 17 Little Terns secreted amongst the larger group of 43 Arctic Terns and 3 Common Terns. Numbers of waders really have increased since my visit last month and included 172 Bar-tailed Godwits, 30 Ringed Plover, 96 Curlew and smaller numbers of Grey Plover, Sanderling, Knot and Redshank. No sign of any early Geese but a Peregrine was seen hunting over the dunes.